Machine for sharpening sickles.



No. MUQI. Patented lan. 27 |900. C. LAUE.

MACHINE FOR SHARPENING SICKLES.

(Application iled Sept. 7, 1899.)

(No Windel.)

WHIJESSZS llnijrirnn snmp llARLES LAUE, OF

ALMA, W'ISCONSIN.

llrliCl'llhlE FUR SHARPENlhlG SHCKLES.

SPIECFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,391, dated January 2, 1900.

i Application filed September 7, 1899. Serial No. 729,770. (No model.)

To all 107mm 'it may cm1/cern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES LAUE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Alina, in the countyof Buffalo and State of lViseonsin, have invented a new and useful Machine for Sharpening Sichles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for sharpening the siekles of binders, mowers, or reapers, and has for its object te provide a simple, effective, and compact device for this purpose whereby the knives of the sickle-bar can be easily ground similarly and fully back to the bar and to include in the organization of the machine a flexible shaft carrying an celery-wheel or analogous device on the 'free end thereof which can be directed at any angle, and thereby render the operation of sharpening sickles exceptional-ly convenient.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined description and be hereinafter embodied in the claims in the form of novel structural features, and the preferred arrangement et' parts is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section through the Ilexible shaft, the einery-wheel thereon, and a part of the driving devices therefor.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numeral l designates the frame, coinprising opposite longitudinally-disposed side bars 2, arranged in parallel relation and having supporting-legs 3, the said side bars being connected at both ends by cross-ties Al. n the bars 2 in suitable boxes 5, fixed to the latter, is journaled adriving-shaft G, provided with an operating-crank 7 and having fast thereon, between the bars 2, a sprocketwheel 8. ln advance of the shaft G a shaft 9 is also journaled in boxes lO on the bars 2 and has secured thereto a sprocket-wheel 11. rlhe shaft J is projected at one end, and thereon is fastened a band-wheel 12 of enlarged dimension and intended to balance the movements of the mechanism cooperating therewith. The sprocket-wheel S is considerably larger than the sprocket-wheel 11, and both sprocket-wheels are connected by a chain belt 15. ln advance of the shaftf) a flexible shaft 1t is located on the frame and isjournaled in a single box 15 to thereby leave the opposite portion entirely free. The free end of the shaft 14C has secured thereto an emery-wheel or analogous device 1G, formed with a beveled periphery 17, and on the opposite end of the same shaft is secured a pin-wheel 1S, which is traversed by a perforated belt 19, also surrounding the wheel 12.

Frein the foregoing description it will be observed that the speed of the shaft 6 will be increased when imparted to the shaft 9, owing to the difference in dimension of the sprocketwheels S and 1i, and said increased speed is conveyed to the wheel l2 and from the latter to the pin-wheel 1S, which is of comparatively small dimension and whereby a steady rotation at a rapid rate is imparted to the shaft ll. By making the wheel 18 a pin-Wheel and using a perforated belt 1) the latter will be prevented from running off the wheel 18, and by this means the shaft 14 is permitted to be moved without endangering a disconnection of the driving mechanism.

The flexible shaft 14, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, is composed in the main of a wire cable 20, to which the wheel 1S is directly fastened. This cable 2() is ineascd by the bearing-box devices up to the point and slightly beyond the bar 2 and comprises, preferably, a sleeve 21, extending from the wheel 18 and projected through the box l5 and over which is slipped a casing 22, both the sleeve and the casing being rigid. The cable is surrounded from the box l5 to a point adjacent the emery-wheel 1G by a rubber or other flexible tube 23, which is attached at one end tothe casing 22 and at the opposite end to a journal-box 24, into and through which the arbor 25 of the emery-wheel projects and has rotative movement. The inner end of the arbor 25 is constructed with a socket or seat 2G to receive the outer end of the cable 20, which is made' fast therein. From this construction and arrangement of parts it will be seen that the free portion of the ilexible shaft extending across the 'frame can be grasped without interfering with the revolution of the cable 2l, and after use atan angle to its normal position or to bring the einerywheel in operative relation to the beveled knife-edges the said flexible shaft will be returned to the normal position shown, owing ICO to the elasticity of the tube 23 and the tendency of said shaft itself to resume a straight direction.

In operating the device the emery-wheel 16 is pushed over against the knives of the sickle, and in View of the beveled periphery 17 the said knives can be ground close up to the bar supporting the same. Vithout any complex manipulation or intricate adjustments the said emery-wheel may be inclined through its flexible shaft to bring the beveled periphery thereof at any angle required and which may vary in different makes or forms of sickles.

Any suitable holding devices may be used for the sickle, and for domestic use the crankhandle 7 will be employed as a means for actuating the shaft 6. Any other device might be equally well substituted for the said crankhandlein shops or factories for applying power to the shaft 6 and generated at a distance therefrom.

Changes in the proportion, form, and minor details of construction can be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the in- Vention.

Having thus described the invention7 what is claimed as new is- 1. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a drive-shaft, a second shaft adapted to have motion imparted thereto from the drive-shaft and provided with a band-wheel, a flexible shaft journaled adjacent one extremity only, the free extremity of the shaft being movable in a horizontal plane and limited in a downward direction to `always retain it in operative position, a pinwheel on the journaled extremity of the iiexible shaft, an emery-wheel on the free extremity of the said iiexible shaft, and a perforated belt surrounding the band-wheel and en gaging the pin-wheel.

2. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a frame, a flexible shaft journaled adjacent one extremity only, the free extremity of the said shaft being held in a horizontal plane by the side of the frame over which it extends against a downward movement beyond a predetermined extent and readily shiftable in the arc of a circle within said plane, an emery-wheel on the free extremity of the said shaf t, and driving mechanism connected to the opposite extremity.

3. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a horizontal bed, a flexible shaft journaled adjacent one extremity only, the extremity of said shaft opposite that which is journaled being freely movable in a horizontal plane and prevented from lowering below said plane by the side of the bed of the frame over which it extends, a driving device on the journaled extremity, an emery-whecl on the free extremity of said shaft and an elastic tube surround ing the said iiexible shaft.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES LAUE.

Witnesses:

RUDOLF MUELLuI-z, ARETUS BOND. 

